Cat Ears Were So-So, but the Girl Was Pretty

After Feng An and Hinata had finished lunch, Kurenai did not show up. Instead, Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi from Team 10 arrived.

Shikamaru held out a hand and greeted them with a smile. "Yo, Hinata, Feng An."

"What are you doing here?"

Feng An glanced at them, somewhat disappointed.

"Why are you two here? We're waiting for Kurenai."

Although Feng An was always sleeping during class at the Ninja Academy, it was precisely because of that that he had forged a deep revolutionary friendship with Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji, who were often punished by being made to stand.

Shikamaru said, "We just happened to pass by. You looked kind of familiar from a distance, so we came over to take a look."

Choji Akimichi casually said while eating chips, "Kurenai? Wasn't she on a date with Asuma Sensei today?"

Upon hearing that, Feng An abruptly rose to his feet.

"What did you say? She went on a date?"

"Yeah. Asuma Sensei said he had an important date today, so he gave us the day off."

"You didn't know?"

Hinata shook her head, indicating that she did not.

Feng An's expression darkened as he clenched and unclenched his fist.

So she had gone on a date. No wonder she suddenly told us to get some proper rest.

Turns out Kurenai wanted a break herself.

Shikamaru looked at him and asked, "By the way, Feng An, how did you end up on Kurenai's team?"

"That's a long story."

Feng An vividly told Shikamaru how Kurenai had supposedly hugged his leg and begged him to join Team 8.

Shikamaru kept one hand on his chin, wearing an attentive expression the entire time and occasionally nodding.

But the more Feng An spoke, the more outrageous his story became.

He claimed that he had used a Ninjutsu ten meters in diameter that had utterly shocked Kurenai, and that if he refused to join, Kurenai would go on a hunger strike.

Choji turned and leaned close to Shikamaru's ear. "You actually believe him? He's bragging, right?"

Covering his mouth, Shikamaru whispered, "Be more confident. Drop the 'right.' He is bragging."

Just by looking at Hinata, who stood to the side with her head lowered and said nothing, the two knew Feng An was spouting nonsense.

Besides, they did not believe Kurenai would beg him to join Team 8.

While delivering his speech, Feng An had also caught sight of Shikamaru and Choji's little exchange.

He coughed twice. "Ahem, ahem. So that was how I magnanimously joined Team 8."

"I see," Shikamaru said, forcing out a professional fake smile.

The four of them then went their separate ways.

Shikamaru and Choji headed for the convenience store to stock up on snacks while they had a day off.

After learning that Kurenai was on a date with Asuma, Feng An and Hinata set off for another Commercial Street packed with couples.

Once they arrived at the Commercial Street, he realized there really were a lot of people here.

The difference in crowd size compared with the little alley near his home was enormous.

"Hinata, do you see Kurenai?"

He had no choice but to ask Hinata to activate her Byakugan and scan the surroundings, searching for Kurenai.

The Hyuga Clan's unique Byakugan could see everything within a kilometer, as well as clearly perceive a target's chakra pathways, acupoints, and Chakra flow.

Suddenly, Hinata's eyes lit up.

"Over there!"

"All right!"

Feng An grabbed Hinata's little hand and hurried in the direction she pointed.

Kurenai, your nightmare is here. You stood me up, and you still think you can enjoy your date?

Keep dreaming.

However, his fighting spirit had barely risen before being worn down by the packed crowd.

Five minutes passed, and they had said "excuse me" dozens of times already.

With so many people around, he could not exactly hop across rooftops with Hinata. After all, people's tongues could be terrifying.

Hinata blinked and asked, "Are... are we still going?"

"We are. Today, I have to ruin her good time."

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Since they already knew Kurenai's location, Feng An had Hinata deactivate her Byakugan. She could activate it again when the time came.

"Cat ears! Cat ears for sale!"

A shop displayed all kinds of headbands, while its shifty-eyed owner hawked them loudly.

He showed no embarrassment at all, grinning as he promoted his wares to every young person who passed by.

"Handsome lad, the beautiful girl beside you is already so pretty. She'll definitely draw even more attention with these pink cat ears!"

The man and woman walking arm in arm stopped in front of the shop.

The man asked, "Do you want them?"

"Let's go! I don't want them! Only children wear stuff like that."

The woman tugged the man away.

"Don't leave! We have products for mature women too!"

Yet the pair left without even looking back.

When Feng An and Hinata approached, Feng An could not help grumbling inwardly at the man's shifty appearance.

Why did shady merchants all over the world look like this? One look and you could tell he was a swindler.

When the owner had bought these cat ears, he had thought plenty of people would like them and that he could make a fortune. In the end, most of the buyers were little girls.

That was what happened when you did not research the market.

When the owner saw Feng An and Hinata, his eyes immediately lit up.

He hurriedly called out, "Handsome little boy! Beautiful little girl! Take a look at these adorable cat-ear headbands!"

Feng An gave him a sidelong glance, clearly disdainful.

What era was this? Who still liked wearing cat-ear headbands?

It was ridiculous.

Just as he was about to continue walking, he noticed Hinata standing in place, staring at the cat-ear headband in the owner's hand.

Feng An hesitantly asked, "Do you like it?"

Hinata seemed a little embarrassed and nodded shyly.

Feng An wore a strange expression.

He really had not expected Hinata to like cat-ear headbands.

"Boss, how much for one?"

The owner hurriedly smiled.

"Our shop is fair to young and old alike. One price: ninety-eight ryo."

Ninety-eight ryo? Why not just rob me? A bowl of Ichiraku Ramen only costs sixty ryo.

Just as I thought. From now on, I'll never buy anything from a shop run by someone who looks so shifty-eyed. The words "shady merchant" are practically written on his face.

Still, complaints aside, Feng An had to buy it.

For someone with a bit of savings, the price of two bowls of ramen was barely worth mentioning.

He handed the money to the owner and let Hinata choose whichever headband she liked.

Hinata deliberated for a long time before finally pointing at the pink cat-ear headband.

Feng An took the headband and examined it from every angle, but he still thought it looked ugly.

He sighed inwardly.

It was normal for a twelve-year-old girl to like something like this.

Then he grasped both sides of the headband and placed it on Hinata's head.

As soon as she had it on, before he could say anything—

The owner suddenly spoke up from the side.

"Wow! This beautiful little girl looks like a fairy descended to earth in that cat-ear headband! Her beauty puts the moon to shame and makes flowers blush, topples kingdoms and cities, possesses peerless grace, and resembles a celestial maiden..."

Feng An shot him a fierce glare.

If I let you keep going, you'll use up all the compliments. What will I have left to say?

The owner smiled and wisely fell silent.

Hinata raised her head and looked at Feng An shyly.

"Does it look good?"

Hinata's adorable appearance with the cat ears left Feng An dumbfounded and tongue-tied.

"You look like a fairy descended to earth—beautiful enough to put the moon to shame and make flowers blush, to topple kingdoms and cities, with peerless grace, like a celestial maiden."

The shifty-eyed owner glanced at him.

That was blatant plagiarism.